Demi Ricario considers herself each a foodie and a globe-trotter. The “journey bug,” she tells SELF, hit her when she was 15 and took a solo journey to the US from her native Philippines. It was an expertise of a lifetime—she was hooked.

So when Ricario was recognized with ulcerative colitis (UC) on the age of 40, certainly one of her first worries was that her days as a world traveler have been over. “I particularly like to discover locations by means of their delicacies,” says Ricario, who now lives in San Diego along with her husband. However with UC, she wasn’t certain whether or not she might get by a flight, not to mention get pleasure from native meals adventures as soon as she landed.

“It took me a couple of yr to develop the boldness and the desire to journey once more,” Ricario says. Now 10 years out from her analysis, she treks throughout the US and internationally, touring a minimum of as soon as a month for work or enjoyable whereas sharing her experiences on Instagram.

“I’ve to be extra diligent in getting ready for journeys now, extra conscious,” Ricario says. “If you wish to get on the market and discover, you may. You simply have to discover in a wise means.” That will help you do exactly that, we requested Ricario for her prime suggestions for touring with UC.

Do your homework earlier than you depart.

When Ricario and her husband plan a visit, romantic ideas of spontaneity aren’t the precedence. As an alternative, they nail down the websites they need to see, then e-book a lodge inside strolling distance so that they by no means have to fret about getting caught on a subway or bus on the worst second. Generally this implies reserving multiple keep per vacation spot, which may contain a variety of shifting round, however Ricario says it offers her the liberty to discover whereas figuring out a toilet is rarely distant if her signs act up. Ricario notes that she prefers resorts to different varieties of lodging, like trip leases, as a result of she finds consolation in figuring out she’d have the help of lodge employees if she have been to have a foul flare-up. That is very true for her journeys overseas.

Ricario recommends scoping out another key areas prematurely to keep away from frantic searches: public restrooms close to your each day locations (particularly essential in case you anticipate lengthy traces to get into them), in addition to pharmacies and pressing care close to your lodge—simply in case. She additionally suggests studying essential phrases like “The place’s the bathroom?” within the native language.

Don’t be shy about asking for what you want.

When Ricario flies, she all the time books seats close to a toilet. She has but to come across an issue doing so, however in case you do, her recommendation is to name the airline and request a seat reassignment. Inform them you’ve a medical situation that requires frequent journeys to the toilet. If that doesn’t work, Ricario suggests arriving early at check-in and asking once more on the counter, for the reason that seating state of affairs could have modified.

Past securing your seat project, you must really feel empowered to request issues that can assist maintain you snug, says Ricario. For long-haul flights, for instance, Ricario asks to preboard for medical causes so she will be able to settle in with much less stress. For lodge stays, she is going to usually request a mini fridge for her room to retailer UC-friendly snacks and her probiotics, which have to be saved chilly.

Pack your meds strategically.

“I’m like a Lady Scout,” Ricario says of her packing routine. In the event you’re flying, your carry-on must be packed strategically—and will positively embrace your full provide of UC medicine in case your checked baggage goes lacking. Ricario, who takes oral meds, brings sufficient to final a minimum of two weeks past her deliberate tour, alongside along with her normal nutritional vitamins and dietary supplements. This ensures she has a buffer in case her journey plans change or derail.